Jeanne Glen Schmelzer

Jeanne Glen Schmelzer of Fort Collins died on March 5, 2026, at 98 years old. She will be remembered for her wide range of interests and vivacious personality.

Jeanne was born on October 14, 1927, in Evanston, Illinois, to Thomas J. Bowden and Jeanne Glen Bowden. In 1945 she moved with her family to Estes Park, Colorado. After graduating from a five-year nursing program at University of Colorado, she worked as a surgical nurse, office R.N., and in hospitals. In June of 1949 she married her beloved "Perk" (Percy) Schmelzer with whom she enjoyed traveling, hiking, biking, gardening, and hand-carving the wooden furniture and art pieces Perk built. They were dedicated members of St. Luke's Episcopal Church for many years.

After leaving nursing to concentrate on raising her three children, Christine, Carol, and Paul, Jeanne was able to pursue her interests as an artist, including in weaving (on a full-sized loom) and other intricate textile work. In particular she excelled at creating original clothing and other art pieces which incorporated her weaving, quilting, and embroidery skills. Jeanne also loved music and used her training as a soprano in her elective college classes to become a soloist in the church choir. There she developed contacts that led to her writing the lyrics for four published hymns. Years after earning her degree at C.U., Jeanne continued to peruse her lifelong love of learning by auditing classes at C.S.U. in art, foreign languages, and history. Though homebound her last few years, Jeanne still maintained her close friendships, many spanning generations, never forgetting to remember an important date or friend in need with one of her witty and insightful letters. She was also an avid reader on many subjects and genres to the very end.

Jeanne was preceded in death by her parents and stepmother, two brothers and a sister, her husband of more than sixty years, her daughter Christine, and grandson Lucien. She is survived by her children Carol and Paul (Rebecca), her grandchildren Jeanne and Paul Luke, her great granddaughter Echo, and sister Mary Ann Brindle.

A memorial service will be held at the Chapel at St. Luke's Episcopal Church, 2000 Stover Street, Fort Collins, on April 17 at 2:00.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Luke's Church or to the Guatemala Friends Scholarship Fund, c/o Redwood Forest Friends Meeting, P.O. Box 1831, Santa Rosa, CA 95402.